PENGUIN BOOKS

PITCH LETTER
March 21, 2018

Ms. Pamela Paul
Editor, New York Times Book Review
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018

Dear Ms. Paul,

Only about 10 percent of children’s books published depicted people of color and multicultural
content in 2013, according to studies published by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center and
other publishers. Five years later, underrepresentation is still the norm—not only in children’s
literature, but across all genres and age-groups. To change the status quo, Penguin Books has
launched a new series of “Penguin Modern” classics.

The new series of paperback books features 50 short works from iconic writers, activists, and
critics of the 20th century like James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison. These books are short and range
from about 40 to 80 pages each, allowing readers to consume a wide range of classic and often-
overlooked literature. The retail price of the books is a little over a dollar, making them
affordable. Readers can also purchase a boxed set of the works or buy titles individually.

The issue of diversity in publishing has dominated the industry for the past decade. Large
publishers and imprints proudly promote diversity and inclusion in the writers and content they
publish as well as the employees they hire. Even so, the industry has been slow to change.
Penguin Books, an imprint of a “Big Five Publisher” with considerable influence in the industry,
hopes to promote both new and forgotten voices from a myriad of backgrounds cultures with
this new series. I would love to give you some more statistics and arrange some interviews and
photos with the editors and executives involved at Penguin Books to discuss this launch.

Please let me know if you would be interested in covering “Penguin Modern” classics, or if you
would like to receive a copies of works to review. I will follow-up next week to discuss your
interest in covering this new series. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to email me at
cpbramle@asu.edu or call me at 615-881-4893. I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,


Chad Bramlett

PENGUIN BOOKS
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
212.366.2000
www.penguin.com